August 16, 2015 (Wanaka, NZ) – The Merino Muster long distance cross-country FR ski race began in light snow at 10.00 a.m. and ended with the last skier coming in at 4.30 p.m. as the light was starting to fade..

Entries were more than double the year before and almost broke the 300 mark.  The largest field was in the 42km with large numbers of overseas skiers outnumbering New Zealanders by 2-1.  Many of the overseas skiers were Worldloppet masters who have achieved gold status after competing in more than 10 overseas races other than their home base.

Start Merino Muster © Stephen Jaquiery

The main race was won by Canadian Brian McKeever who is a Canadian National adaptive member and a former 2x winner of the Merino Muster. He just pipped fellow Canuck, Graham Nishikawa, at the line.  The winning time was 1:51:15.  A very fast time given the very good snow conditions and lack of wind. Andy Pohl, the NZ team member, was third in 1:53:11, which was very pleasing result given he had been General Managing the Snow Farm for most of the preceding week.

The women’s race was won by Chisa Obayashi from Japan (National Team member) in 2:01:30 with Brandy Stewart of the USA in second and Nicole David from Australia, currently living in NZ, finishing third.

Nishikawa and McKeever battling... © Stephen Jaquiery

In the shorter races the 21km men’s race was won by Donny Boake from Canada, 2nd place was Yoshihiro Nitta of Japan and Xavier McKeever of Canada was third (just old enough to compete in the race). In the women’s race Canada went 1-2 with India McIssac taking the win followed by Shelby Dickey in second. Snow Farm ski instructor Isobel Hendry of NZ finished third.

The 7km race for younger athletes and families was won by Campbell Wright from Wanaka in a very fast 19.39.00 followed by Taiki Kawayoke  of Japan who skis without poles (he is a paralympian) and Louis Jones of Wanaka third.  Both Campbell and Louis are biathletes but competed without their rifles for this race.  They are joining Andy Pohl as part of the NZ team heading off to Australia this week to compete in our sister Australian Worldloppet event “The Kangaroo Hoppet”.

Canadian winners McKeever (r) and Nishikawa at the finish © John Burridge

In the female section the winner was Ella Maluschnig from Wanaka, with Fiona Murray second also from Wanaka and Meg Creagh from Alexandra third – a NZ trifecta from Wanaka.

The 42km had a large Japanese and Korean contingent, a Canadian Club known as the Rocky Mountain racers, who are Pohl’s overseas club and are now training with Tristan Mckenzie from Gore, who is hoping to compete at the IBU World Biathlon Championships early next year in Rumania. Mckenzie was pleased with his top-10 finish.

The Americans and Australians provided most of the specialist Worldloppet skiers who compete around the world and delivered fun uniforms and a really unique attitude to the racers.  They were all surprised at the course marking as earlier in the week they were nervous about getting lost.  The Americans were all taken by the views of the Alps from many parts of the course and a number have already booked for next year.

Little Bo Peep aka Phillipa Dobson Brown © John Burridge

In the 21km race we had Japanese and Canadian paralympians including a sit-skier from Canada who has to rely on his arms only for propulsion and a large group Korean biathletes.

Our flags and poles funded by QLDC lifted the race presence another notch and will be available for the Winter Games X-Country events later in the month..

The Snow Farm is the premium venue for NZ X-Country events and the quality and support of our dedicated volunteers make the event very special for our overseas visitors.

Provisional results here.